2018 Science Meeting

Last month, ANU’s University House hosted the inaugural ASTRO 3D Science Meeting, where the breadth and depth of our latest discoveries were shared by over 40 researchers from PhDs to Chief Investigators and everyone in between.

Feedback from ASTRO 3D members who attended included:

“I found getting an overall overview of the various different fields that are dealt with/researched/studied within ASTRO 3D very valuable.”

“I liked the opportunities to network with people from the other projects, and start to dream up collaborative projects.”

“I really enjoyed making connections with the other nodes.”

Overall, a great range of science and a fantastic opportunity to network, talk astronomy and plan for the future!

Some of the science highlights include:

Highlights of the Murchison Widefield Array Epoch of Reionsation project, including an overview from Prof. Cath Trott from Curtin, and updates on limits, analysis, calibration and use of models in understanding this part of the Universe formation:

Next was a review of the ASKAP HI surveys, with an overview from Prof. Elaine Sadler from Sydney University, and highlights from the FLASH, DINGO and WALLABY surveys, and Baraba Catinella who told us about the synergy between HI observations and integral field spectroscopic surveys:

The Genesis Theoretical Simulations were outlined by Chris Power of University of Western Australia, Darren Croton (Swinburne) explained how easy it was to build your own simulated universe (with very little work or effort!), and we heard updates about TAO, PRISM, semi-numerical models for understanding intergalactic medium the indirect influence of quasars on reionisation (Winner: best title slide – Game of Photons, You Reionise or Die):

Michele Trenti from Melbourne gave us an outline of the First Galaxies Project and Karl Glazebrook (Swinburne) gave us a Galaxy Evolution project overview. The talks under these covered a wide range of research, from high-redshift galaxy formation constraints, MOSFIRE emission line survey targets, gravitationally lensed galaxies, UV spectral diagnostics for high-z galaxies, KMOS3D survey data, and star formation in young stellar clusters.

Dinner was at the spectacular Academy of Science Shine Dome, where we had the opportunity to listen to ANU’s Vice-Chancellor and Nobel Prize winner in Physics Professor Brian Schmidt, give his thoughts on what defines excellence and how to support our researchers.

Day two kicked off with a SAMI overview by Scott Croom from Sydney University, followed by updates on embedded discs and radial trends, kinematic bulge/disc decomposition, galaxy shapes and ages, the effect of DIG on metallicity gradients, Fornax3D and a HECTOR overview.

And finally, a session on Galactic Archaeology/First Stars headed up by Martin Asplund from ANU, with updates from Skymapper, GALAH, and K2 HERMES.